Trading Precious Metals from Home

Retired investors interested in fixed asset investments will love the rewarding experience of trading precious metals from home. Investors seeking the opportunity to buy gold bullion or buy silver bullion will find that the online trading environment is optimum for purchasing precious metals.

The Investment Potential in Precious Metals Assets

Traditional rationale for investing in gold or silver has always been that precious metals provide a safe haven. The most traded fixed asset, precious metals have been important to both domestic and foreign investment in the past several years. When markets are volatile due to the economy or government policy decision, safe haven assets buffer a portfolio from exposure and fluctuations in currency value.

Diversification in precious metals investments can now be found in the online trading environment. Competition has promoted the establishment of a number of reputable, online exchanges trading both safe haven fixed assets, securities, and secondary market contracts Investors buy and sell precious metals via digital exchange. Physical gold and certificates are vital financial instruments that retain value long-term. Gold prices dictate the precious metals trade. Calculation of silver price to gold has much to do with global demand for physical silver bullion. 

Buying and Selling Gold and Silver Bullion

The demand for physical silver internationally has also advanced recently in response to its use in manufacturing. The lower price than gold has also made silver a favorite safe haven investment in emerging markets, where at least part of investor liquidity is invested in precious metals. Although precious metals prices are expected in drop in the near term, continued demand in China and India in 2014, makes silver a viable investment choice. It is a great time to buy safe haven investments, and it can be done online.

Storage is a consideration when investing in physical gold. When trading precious metals online, research criteria to purchase of gold or silver bullion or coins. Reputable online traders will be expert numismatists, and licensed dealers of precious metals bullion and other physical assets such as coins. The best part about physical precious metals is that they are not subject to capital gains tax by the Internal Revenue Service. This presents a good reason to transfer other more risky investments to precious metals assets. 

The Primary and Secondary Precious Metals Markets

Securitized exchange traded funds (ETFs) and exchange traded commodities (ETC) offer investors another version of precious metals asset. Widely traded across global exchanges online, ETF and ETC valuation is only partly affected by the price of physical gold. More responsive to upward swings in market activity, secondary market funds are set to outperform physical precious metals in the near future. This offers investors an opportunity to transfer safe haven assets to higher earning ETFs and ETCs. Shares and investment funds established by mining corporations are another form of precious metals asset. 

Trading Precious Metals Assets Online

A licensed financial advisor specializing in precious metals trading can provide more information about gold and silver investment. Gold and silver have traditionally been long-term return assets, yet the expansion of the ETF and ETC market, as well as the securitization of mining has created new investment opportunities in precious metals. Online trading platforms offer a range of asset listings, volume of assets available for trade, and tools for analysis of markets, price changes and up-to-the-minute tips for making the right precious metals investment decision.

Retired investors can substantially improve their retirement investment portfolio with precious metals assets. Digital trading environments offering retired investors real time reporting of global precious metals markets, research, tools and trade exchange are one of the fastest growing segments in the financial sector. If you are an investor looking to buy gold bullion or buy silver bullion, you can now buy gold online and buy silver online. Invest in precious metals safe haven physical assets, or secondary market exchange to add stability and growth to your retirement income.

5 Possible Investments for a Better Retirement

The best type of investment for your future will depend on your age, disposable income and the amount of money that you have managed to save so far. Generally speaking, the older you are the less risks you should take. For example, investing in equities may be a good idea for those in their 20s, 30s and 40s but if you are planning to retire in ten years or less, it is probably best to minimize the percentage of your portfolio that is invested in stocks and shares. This is because stock markets can be quite volatile and if you are likely to need your money sooner rather than later, you may be forced to liquidate your holdings when the market is at a low point, historically speaking. 

Below are five areas in which you might like to invest, with some comments on their suitability for people of different ages: 

1. The equity market – as mentioned above, investing in the stock market, whether via exchange traded funds or directly in individual shares, can provide healthy returns over a reasonable period of time but is not advisable for those that are hoping to retire in the near future. Free online advice such as that offered by moneyvista financial planning and other similar organisations can be very useful when trying to work out which equity funds are the most suitable for your needs. 

2. Government bonds – known in the UK as gilts and elsewhere as treasuries, they are considered to be very low risk investments and because they pay a fixed amount, known as the coupon, it is easy to work out exactly how much income you will receive over time from the government bonds in which you invest. The value at which they can be sold does change but if you are going to hold them until maturity this is not an issue that will concern you. 

3. High interest savings accounts – sadly, these are largely a thing of the past. The low rates set by central banks in developed countries across the globe mean that it is very hard to find a safe home for your cash where you will receive interest payments that exceed the level of inflation in your home country. However, if you are prepared to accept the higher exchange rate risk associated with holding deposits with banks in developing nations, it is still possible to get a good return on your savings in certain parts of the world. 

4. Property – if you had asked a hundred people for investment advice 5 years ago, the chances are that nearly every single one of them would have recommended investing in property for those that could afford it. Recent events may have changed some people’s opinions with regard to the safety of bricks and mortar as a home for retirement funds but residential properties still offer a high potential for capital growth when compared to other investment opportunities. As with stocks and shares, it is inadvisable to put your money into property unless you have plenty of time to ride out any possible downtrends and wait for a recovery. 

5. Antiques and art – although not many financial advisors are likely to suggest investing a sizeable proportion of your retirement funds in Queen Anne chairs or paintings by Old Masters, such objects not only offer the chance of making a big profit over time but they also come with the added advantage of providing their owners with many years of pleasure in the meantime. If you appreciate beautiful things and you don’t mind taking a risk, antiques and works of art could be worth further investigation. 

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The MoneyVista financial planning site is a service that aims to provide users with helpful information on personal finances, covering topics on borrowing, saving, and budgeting.